Flying a plane safely through the sky…
with passengers or freight on board…
takes more than excellent vision…
airline and commercial pilots need
quick reaction times and
excellent problem-solving abilities.
These pilots fly and navigate airplanes,
helicopters, and other aircraft.
Pilots run through detailed checks
before every flight, including
checking fuel supplies, aircraft weight limit,
cargo balance, weather conditions,
and aircraft condition.
Tiny cockpits contain the flight crew
for the duration of flight;
strong teamwork and sharing of
flight duties keep the pilot
and copilot alert and rested.
Pilots communicate frequently with
air traffic controllers on the ground,
from submitting their flight plan before take-off,
to checking in during a flight,
and receiving instructions for landing
and handling storms or emergencies.
Airline pilots fly public, scheduled flights.
They may fly long-distance routes,
and be away from home for extended periods.
Those routes, along with
mandatory rest periods between flights,
cause pilots to have irregular work schedules.
Pilots may be deputized as federal officers
and carry firearms to protect the cockpit.
Commercial pilots fly charter flights,
rescue operations, firefighting missions,
crop dusting flights, and take aerial photographs.
They often have additional duties that include
scheduling flights and aircraft maintenance.
Those who fly at low levels must navigate
hazards such as power lines. Commercial pilots
typically need high school education, while
airline pilots generally need a bachelor’s degree,
the Airline Transport Pilot certificate,
and thousands of hours of flight experience
as a commercial or military pilot.
All professional pilots must have a
commercial pilot’s license from
the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight training usually begins at a
flight school or with an independent instructor.